Fresh from two meetings in Milan and Rome, Thomas Piketty finally shows himself and makes his voice heard also by the Italians. Author of the most discussed book of recent months - Capital in the 21st century - the French economist reveals himself, among other things, to be a fine popularizer.
With five hundred thousand copies sold in the United States alone, this essay - certainly not streamlined - turns out to be a very particular best-seller of its kind: a text full of data and economic analysis manages to reach the top of the sales charts throughout the world, including Italy. As its next edition summary, Inequalities. Certainly, the theme of inequality, in an era of global crisis and prevailing finance, is decisive and allows us to develop new visions of the economy and public action. But this is not a new issue. The relationship between neo-liberalism and globalization, between sovereignty and the market, between capital, finance and work has now been a subject of debate and political division for some decades. At least since the days of Reagan and Thatcher. And today it becomes fundamental.
In his live encounters, Piketty behaves no differently than in writing. Using a massive amount of historical data gathered together with a diverse team, he offers very convincing insights into the new world situation and the trends that are looming on the horizon. In the United States, more than in Europe, inequality is growing strongly: l'1% of the population holds 22% of wealth, the highest percentage since 1928 to date. And for the years '80, the 70% of all the wealth produced ended up in the hands of the 10% of the population.
And it is precisely in a historical perspective that the French economist places himself. In particular from the period that goes from the Great Crisis and from the postwar period up to the present day; striving - especially with the approach of recent decades - to shift the question from income to wealth, the distribution of assets. Work as a historian rather unusual in economic discourse, especially if, to support it, research conducted with such precision.
"Capital in the 21st century" by Thomas Piketty (Bompiani, pp. 950, 22 euros)
"Inequalities" by Thomas Piketty (Bocconi University Publisher, pp. 176 pp; 10.90 euros available from 20 November)
Published on CultWeek.
English 
Italian